New Castle grad Trey Ball improving

Trey Ball has developed plenty of respect for the hitters in the South Atlantic League. The New Castle graduate is in his first full season as a professional baseball player. He plays for the Greenville Drive, a Boston Red Sox Single-A affiliate in South Carolina. As Ball adjusts to that level of competition, he's been impressed with the quality of the batters he's faced.

"They can hit; they hit everyone," Ball said. "It's actually a very difficult league. You've just got to learn from that."

After some difficult outings to start his season in Greenville (he was 1-7 at the end of June, having allowed 35 earned runs in 431/3 innings), Ball, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 draft, has seen his numbers improve dramatically since the start of July. Ball spoke to The Star Press by telephone Wednesday, the day after pitching six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) against Augusta.

It was the fourth consecutive start in which he allowed two or fewer earned runs. He went at least five innings in all of those games. Ball said his off-speed pitches have been better recently, something he credited for the improved performance. Against the caliber of hitters he's facing, he said breaking pitches to take the batter away from a fastball are essential.

"I've been learning to pitch, been throwing my game. I've been, actually, just learning how to pitch, throwing what I want when I want," Ball said. "My changeup has improved so much the last couple months, along with the curveball."

The Drive's pitching coach, Paul Abbott, said he's also noticed a difference in Ball's recent outings. Abbott said he's noticed Ball has become more confident in his recent starts, something that has allowed him to pitch more aggressively.

"He's pitching inside, he's using his changeup, he commands the ball down in the zone much more confidently now," Abbott said. "I just see him growing as a pitcher."

Ball reported to Greenville in time to play his first game for the Drive in late April. Despite the notorious grind of a minor league baseball season, Ball said he's been enjoying it. He said listening to music is his coping mechanism when traveling on road trips, and he said the rides seem to go by quickly. He enjoys playing at a level where his team has a game most days.

After starting Tuesday against Augusta, Ball's next start was Sunday against the Lexington Legends in Lexington, Ky. He pitched 62/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking two batters. He struck out four. It was his fifth consecutive outing in which he went at least five innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer. He was the winning pitcher in the Drive's 5-0 victory.